Tigers In the Mix With Six-Foot-Eight Juco Star

Livonia, Mich.--A basketball player who is expected to be named a junior college All-American has Auburn on his list of favorites.

Mike Williams, a 6-8, 180-pound guard/forward from Schoolcraft College, has helped his team post a 32-0 record this season and earn a spot in the national junior college tournament that starts next week.

Mike Williams

Playing guard and small forward for the Oscelots, Williams is averaging 22 points, 11 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game as a sophomore.

"Mike is a very athletic player who is having a great year for us," says Schoolcraft head coach Carlos Briggs. "Offensively, he is a slasher who is good at scoring inside. In our offense that is where we want him to be so he doesn't shoot many three-pointers.

"He is a very good rebounder and a good defensive player. Mike is going to be named to the All-American teams this year."

Briggs says that Williams was already a good player when he arrived at Schoolcraft, the college that sent guard Derrick Bird to Auburn in last year's signee class. Williams was a first team Michigan All-State pick as a senior at City High School in Detroit.

Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado and others are among the colleges recruiting Williams, who is definitely interested in the Tigers, his head coach says. However, recruiting is currently on the backburner until after the national tournament is completed.

Tiger Ticket Extra: Schoolcraft's Briggs says that Auburn's Bird was one of his favorite players he has coached. "I don't want this to sound like I am knocking Derrick's ability as a player because I am not, but I will say that Derrick is a better person than he is a player and that is saying a lot. I know his team lost some key players this year with injuries and such, but I expect they will be back next season."...When asked to compare Williams to Bird, Briggs says, "Mike is a good defensive player with a lot of ability, but physically he is not as strong as Derrick is. Mike is really athletic and has a lot of offensive skills and that is a big reason why so many colleges are interested in signing him."...Schoolcraft's opening round opponent at the national tournament is Allegany Junior College from Maryland, which features point guard Erick Wills, a player the Tigers are recruiting. Briggs says his scouting report identifies the Allegany point guard as a key player his Oscelots must contend with on Tuesday.